This page provides an overview of recently completed rail-related infrastructure projects in the Pioneer Valley region.
Please note that this listing does not list all projects.
Contents
Greenfield
Extension of the station platform (2018–2019)
Holyoke
Repairs to Pioneer Valley Railroad Bridge (2018)
Northampton
Bike/pedestrian underpass (2016–2017)
Extension of the station platform (2018–2019)
Springfield
Union Station, Platform C (2016–2020)
Bike/pedestrian underpass (2019–2021)
Connecticut River Main Line
Stone Arch Bridge Re-decking (2018)
Repair of Bridges at Mileposts 16.67 and 19.90 (2019)
Tree and Brush clearing (2018)
Tie Replacement Project (2019)
Tie Replacement on Bridges at Milepost 34.82 & 34.95 (2019)
Continuously Welded Rail Installation and Maintenance (2022)
CRML Bridge Work | MP 3.60 & MP 7.97 (2022–2023)
Freight projects
NECR Freight Corridor Upgrade (2021–2023)
Vermont Projects of Note
NECR Rail Corridor Projects (2023)
Northampton | Bike/pedestrian underpass (2016–2017)
Northampton, Ma. | November 12, 2017
The bike/pedestrian underpass in Northampton, which opened to public in November 2017, provides a direct connection between the Mass Central Rail Trail (on the east side of the railroad tracks) with the Northampton Bike Trail which is on the west side of the tracks.
The underpass also provides residents on the east side of the tracks with a safe walking path to the many retail establishments located on King Street in Northampton.
Further details on the underpass and its construction can be found on this link:
Northampton underpass project
Trains In The Valley
Bernardston | Stone Arch Bridge Re-decking (2018)
Source: Construction Equipment Guide, November 7, 2018
In September, 2018 MassDOT and its contractors executed a complicated project to re-deck the 208-foot viaduct that crosses the Fall River in Bernardston, Mass. The viaduct, which is commonly known as the Stone Arch Bridge, was built in 1846 for the Connecticut River Railroad.
The majority of the work was performed during a scheduled five-day service outage that commenced on September 7, 2018.
Further information
“Crews Finish Bridge Rehabilitation in Massachusetts”
By Cindy Riley | Construction Equipment Guide | November 7, 2018
Stone Arch Bridge Bernardston, MA
NHRHTA New Haven RR Forum | September 17, 2018
This post includes additional images from the project
Holyoke | Repairs to Pioneer Valley Railroad Bridge (2018)
Near South Canal & Cabot streets | Holyoke, Ma. | November 16, 2018
The Pioneer Valley Railroad and its contractors have rehabilitated a curved open deck bridge in Holyoke near South Canal and Cabot street. The bridge, which is shown in the images above, carries a section of the PVRR over a canal in Holyoke. Steel and masonry work performed on the structure.
The re-opening of this bridge, which was last used in 2013, will allow the Pioneer Valley Railroad to interchange freight rail cars with the Pan Am Southern railroad which operates the north-south rail line through Holyoke.
This work was partially funded by a grant of $495,000 that was made by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The grant was one of eight grant awards made in 2017 under MassDOT’s Industrial Rail Access Program.
Tree and Brush clearing along the Conn River Main Line (2018)
MassDOT’s contractors clearing brush and trees along the right of way on the Connecticut River Main Line.
Northampton | Repair of Bridges at Mileposts 16.67 and 19.90 (2019)
Hockanum Road, Northampton, Ma. | March 15, 2019
This project involved the repair and rehabilitation of two railroad bridges in Northampton, MA.
Greenfield & Northampton | Extension of the station platforms (2018 – 2019)
This project extended the existing high-level station platforms in Greenfield and Northampton to a length of 146 feet.
An expanded station platform will allow for two pairs of passenger car doors to be opened on the platform, which would basically double the speed of boarding (and deboarding) passengers at these station.
Further reading
Greenfield platform extension project
Trains In The Valley
Northampton platform extension project
Trains In The Valley
Knowledge Corridor Tie Replacement Project (2019)
North Main Street, Deerfield, Ma. | looking north | April 8, 2018
This project called for tie replacements, track refurbishment and related work along 32 miles of the Connecticut River Main Line (CRML).
The project included the follow elements:
- Installation up to 30,000 new wood railroad ties
- Installation of 3.5 track miles of new continuous welded rail on the controlled sidings in Northampton and Springfield and on the southbound track in Deerfield
- Construction of 0.4 miles of new southbound track in Deerfield
- Distribution of 28,500 tons of track ballast
- Surface, align and regulate the ballast along 32 miles of CRML track, including all turnouts that branch off the mainline track
- Remove and reconstruct five farm crossings along the line
- Remove & dispose of all scrap crossties, timbers, and wood debris
Progress images
Egypt Rd crossing, Whately, Ma. | looking north | May 19, 2019
Easthampton, Ma. | May 31, 2019
Tie Replacement on Bridges at Milepost 34.82 & 34.95 (2019)
Viewed from Hope St | Greenfield, Ma. | April 21, 2019
The project involved the replacement of ties on two Connecticut River Main Line (CRML) bridges;
- Bridge at MP 34.82 [visible in the background in the image above] which carries the CRML over the Deerfield River
- Bridge at MP 34.95 [visible in the foreground in the image] which carries the CRML over the Pan Am Southern Fitchburg Main line.
Part of this project included the re-installation of the 2nd mainline track on both bridges.
Further reading
“Deerfield, Greenfield railroad bridges slated for repairs”
By Dan Desrochers | The Recorder | April 30, 2018
Cheapside Railroad Bridge (PDF)
Inventory No. DEE.905
Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System
Springfield | Union Station, Platform C (2016-2020)
Springfield Union Station | January 23, 2020
The project added a 362-foot high-level platform at Springfield Union Station.
Further reading
Springfield Union Station | Platform C Project
Trains In The Valley
Springfield | Bike/pedestrian underpass (2019–2021)
The project provided for a pedestrian route (an underpass) under the railroad tracks to provide a safe pedestrian connection between the Brightwood and North End neighborhoods in Springfield — more specifically between the Chestnut Middle School area in Brightwood and the Birnie Avenue/Main Street area in the North End.
Further reading
Springfield underpass project
Trains In The Valley
CWR Installation and Maintenance (2022–2024)
This project includes the installation of up to two track miles of continuously welded rail (CWR) on the controlled passing siding in Northampton, Mass. on the MassDOT-owned Connecticut River Main Line.
The project also includes thermite field welding at various locations along the rail corridor.
This siding, which is the track on the right in the image above, runs from a point just south of the bike underpass to the crossing at Highway Auto Salvage.
Conn River Main Line Bridge Work | MP 3.60 & MP 7.97
This project was for the repair and rehabilitation of two existing steel railroad bridges on the Connecticut River Main Line, in the cities of Chicopee and Holyoke.
Depot Street in Chicopee, Mass. | June 20, 2022
The bridge at milepost (MP) 3.60, which carriers the railroad line over Depot Street in Chicopee, is a 25-foot long single span open deck bridge.
Gatehouse Road in Holyoke, Mass. | June 20, 2022
The bridge at MP 7.97 — which carries the railroad line over the Second Level Canal and Lyman street in Holyoke — is a 336-foot long 3-span open deck bridge.
This bridge was built in 1928 by the Boston Bridge Works. The inventory record, which can be found on the link below, indicates that the bridge replaced an iron lattice truss bridge that was built on the site in 1887.
Further reading
B & M Railroad Bridge over Lyman Street
Massachusetts Cultural Resource Informati
Freight projects
NECR Freight Corridor Upgrade (2021–2023)
In February 2021 the MassDOT Board of Directors approved funding to support a project to upgrade the 55-mile New England Central Railroad (NECR) corridor in Massachusetts that runs between Monson, Palmer and Northfield.
The project, which is managed by NECR, is funded roughly 1/3rd by NECR, 1/3rd by MassDOT, and 1/3 by the Federal Railroad Administration.
The project includes the replacement of 22.7 miles of jointed rail with continuously welded rail, the installation of 30,000 wood ties, the replacement of 30 turnouts, the installation of 25,000 tons of new stone ballast, the alignment and surfacing of 54.7 miles of track, and bridge deck repairs on 16 structures.
The project will increase the maximum allowable gross weight for freight cars moved on this NECR line from from 263,000 lbs to current national standard which is 286,000 lbs.
Further reading
Closing the Gap in New England Western Massachusetts Freight Railroad Upgrade Project (PDF)
MassDOT Board Presentation
Vermont Projects of Note
NECR Rail Corridor Work (2023)
The list below summarizes the projects that were planned to be completed during the 2023 construction season on the New England Central Railway (NECR), the route of the Vermonter.
Track work
Replacement of 22,000 ties and 41 miles of track surfacing between White River Junction and a point about three miles south of the Bellows Falls station.
Bridge work
Replacement of the bridge that carries the railroad line over Vermont Route 14 in Royalton VT. (Royalton Bridge BR#24)
Signal system work
Installation of a Centralized Traffic Control signal system extension from Putney VT south to East Northfield MA.
Work related to active warning devices at grade crossings
– 21 locations upgraded
– 17 new locations installed
Rock slope remediation
Culvert work (3 locations)
Embankment work (2 locations)
Ledge remediation (10 locations)
Rock slide detector installation (8 locations)
Hot box and dragging equipment detectors (5 locations
See also
East-West Rail in Massachusetts
Infrastructure | Current Projects
MassDOT Capital Investment Plan
Page last updated: May 20, 2024
Page last reviewed: January 5, 2024